Hundreds more spaces in Yellowknife and Fort Smith for those fleeing the Hay River flood, says gov't
CBC
As Hay River and the K'atl'odeeche First Nation brace for more surges of floodwater and ice, N.W.T. officials say they have room in Yellowknife and Fort Smith for hundreds more evacuees.
Nearly 3,800 people were ordered to leave the communities late Wednesday after water surged over the banks of the Hay River close to where it meets Great Slave Lake. The river was high enough to flood Hay River's downtown core, built in an area expressly chosen to avoid flooding, particularly after a terrible flood in 1963.
Laura Gareau, the deputy minister for Municipal and Community Affairs, said so far about 155 residents from the two communities have registered with evacuation centres. Ninety-three have registered at the multiplex in Yellowknife, with just over half making plans to stay there, while about 62 have registered at the Snowshoe Inn in Fort Providence.
An unknown number of residents are staying in Enterprise or have headed further south.
Gareau said there are 660 cots available at the multiplex. Additionally, Fort Smith is ready to receive up to 50 people. There are also hotel rooms available for people who need them for medical reasons.
She said the government is urging people who escaped the flooding to register by calling 833-699-0188 — even if they're staying with family or friends — so the emergency management organization knows where people are, what they need and whether assistance is available.
She said right now, the government and communities "do not have the capacity to physically find people."
"A current issue for [the emergency management organization] is we are uncertain on how many evacuees to actually expect in Yellowknife," Gareau noted during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
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The news conference included Premier Caroline Cochrane and Shane Thompson, the minister of municipal and community affairs.
It came after both South Slave communities issued evacuation orders Wednesday night due to major flooding along the Hay River. Emergency workers were out Thursday morning assessing the situation and coming up with their next steps.
Many residents fled to Enterprise or south into Alberta, while others drove north to Yellowknife.
Surrounding communities have been offering aid.
The territory has spent the past year updating its disaster assistance policy and plans to hold a technical briefing Monday on the changes.
